Arsenal send message to Manchester United over Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer | Football
Arsenal have indicated they will only sell Manchester United target Myles Lewis-Skelly for an ‘absolutely crazy’ transfer fee.
United have reportedly expressed interest in signing Lewis-Skelly from Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer.
Luke Shaw has enjoyed an impressive season at Old Trafford but United are believed to be of the opinion that he will need support next year ahead of the club’s likely return to the Champions League.
Manchester United admire Lewis-Skelly despite the 19-year-old enduring a surprisingly underwhelming season for the Premier League title favourites.
Lewis-Skelly made his Arsenal debut last season and ended up making 39 appearances in all competitions, helping the Gunners challenge for the title and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The teenager was particularly impressive in Arsenal’s superb European win over Real Madrid and was subsequently hailed as the Young Player of the Season by Manchester United and Liverpool legends Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.
Arsenal awarded academy graduate Lewis-Skelly with a new long-term contract last summer and expected him to kick on this season and continue to impress under Mikel Arteta.
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However he has barely featured for the Gunners, making just one start in the Premier League and slipping behind Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie in the pecking order.
Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game-time has led to speculation he will leave Arsenal at the end of the season and Manchester United are keeping tabs on his situation.
Representatives of the player are believed to have approached United to discuss a possible move, with both parties interested.
But transfer expert Ben Jacobs, speaking on The United Stand, says it would be a ‘really difficult’ deal for United to agree due to Arsenal’s stance.
It is claimed the Gunners are more than happy to keep hold of Lewis-Skelly and will only sanction his exit for an ‘absolutely crazy’ fee.
While Arsenal look ready to play hardball, ex-Gunners striker Alan Smith believes his former could would at least be willing to sell a first-team regular and academy graduate to Manchester United.
‘I think Arsenal would sell him now,’ Smith told BestBettingSites. ‘I mean, they could make a good profit given that he’s an academy player.
‘Two players ahead of him at Arsenal are Calafiori and Hincapie, who are better defenders. A bit like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis-Skelly is not such a good defender.
‘So, United buying him, that’ll be interesting. I mean, look, who’s going to be the manager at United? Maybe he’s going to have a say in that.
‘But Lewis-Skelly, that’s his best role, coming into that midfield. Luke Shaw has been really steady for United at left-back. He’s had a good season, ever-present.
‘So, it’ll be interesting to see whether Manchester United go for him. I think Arsenal would sell him to United, in all fairness.’
Given his lack of minutes, Lewis-Skelly would have appreciated his two outings for England U21 during the international break against Moldova and Andorra.
Lewis-Skelly could be used by Arteta at the weekend when Arsenal return to action in the FA Cup with a quarter-final tie against Southampton.
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Arsenal send message to Manchester United over Myles Lewis-Skelly transfer | Football
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